5 events in which USA will not feature at Paris Olympics 2024 ft. Handball, Athletics 20km race walk

By Animesh Pandey

Modified Jul 10, 2024 06:24 GMT

Ever thought that the USA would not compete in a sport at the Summer Olympics? Sounds strange, but it's true. Ever since the modern Olympics were introduced in 1896, the USA has been a part of every edition [Moscow 1980 being the lone exception], and almost every event imaginable.

However, there are some sporting events even today, in which the American team has either chosen not to participate or hasn't been able to qualify. Here are five events in which the USA won't compete at the Paris Olympics in 2024:

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5 events in which USA will not feature at Paris Olympics 2024

#5) Artistic Swimming [Men's Team]

This is one category in which men have hardly been allowed till Paris 2024, forget the American male swimmers. However, when the IOC relaxed the rules, allowing two male swimmers in the team event, the American selection committee chose to go without them.

#4) Modern Pentathlon [Men's Category]

Nathan Schrimsher competing in modern pentathlon at Rio Olympics [Image Source: Getty]

Introduced at the Stockholm Olympics in 1912, modern pentathlon has been an essential part of every edition of the Summer Olympics. Even though the USA hasn't been as successful in modern pentathlon as in most other sports, it has regularly participated in almost every edition.

However, for the first time since the Moscow Olympics in 1980, the American team won't be sending a male athlete in modern pentathlon. Only Jessica Davis has been able to qualify for the event at the Paris Olympics.

#3) Field Hockey [Men's Category]

USA v Great Britain at the Atlanta Olympics [Image Source: Getty]

The women's hockey team managed to scrape a spot for the Paris Olympics but another sport in which the USA won't be competing is the men's field hockey event. This is one of those rare team sports where the U.S. Olympic Team hasn't been able to even leave a solid impression, let alone climb the podium.

The only time the American team ever managed to win something significant was in the women's team event in Los Angeles in 1984, where the American team won their first and only bronze medal.

For the men's team, it was even worse. The only time they managed to qualify for the Olympics was through the host quota, which they received thrice: in Los Angeles in 1932 and 1984, and in Atlanta in 1996. On none of the occasions did the USA manage to proceed beyond the first round.

#2) Athletics [Race Walking in both categories]

An American racewalker at the London Olympics [Image Source: Getty]

For the first time at the Paris Olympics 2024, the US runners haven't been able to qualify for any category of the 20 km race walk. Yes, that's absolutely true. For the first time in the history of the Summer Olympics, the USA has not been able to qualify for a track and field event in either the male or female category.

#1) Handball [Both the Categories]

Handball, the only sport where the USA has never qualified since the Atlanta Olympics [Image for Representational Purposes] [Image Source: Getty]

Handball is to the USA what soccer is to India. None of the two is an expert, but since the Atlanta Olympics, the USA has never managed to qualify for handball in either the male or the female category. Even at the Paris Olympics in 2024, the USA hasn't made it in either category of handball.